Pile-driver



(No Model.) D. KNOWLES. -2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

PILE DRIVER.

Patented De g. 5, 1882.

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N. PETERS. Phm-Lmm m nev, Waihmglom D c (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. KNOWLES PILE DRIVER Patented Dec. 5,v 1882.

Wfizewmemx zfdcw P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL KNOWLES, OF ivoaFoLK, VIRGINIA.

PILE-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 268,415, dated December 5, 1882. Application filed July 1 0, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL KNOWLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of' Fig. 4 is an end view of that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the rope-fastening device.

In the drawings the operative parts of the mechanism are shown as being mounted upon a. supporting and transporting frame. It is composed of longitudinal sills A A, girts B, uprights O 0, top longitudinal pieces, D, top cross-pieces, E, and braces F and G. The frame-work thus provided is preferably mounted upon wheels or rollers H H, by means of which it can be easily transported from place to place. When in position it is made rigidly stationary by means of ground-hooks or anchors 1. Each of the latter is formed of a swinging part having a pivoted portion at 'i, by which it is mounted in a plate, 1, secured to the bottom part of the frame.

Upon the top of the frame there is arranged loosely a cross-beam, J, which is adapted to be adjusted laterally upon the machine. The means of adjustment shown are as follows: The loose cross-beam J is provided with recesses at j, into which the top cross-pieces, E, can fit, so as to provide means for guiding and retaining said loose beam J. Instead of thus recessing the beam, pins may be driven into it, or metal plates may be attached to it, with downwardly-projecting websortlanges. After the said beam-J has been adjusted laterally into the desired position it is fastened therein by means of ropes or chains K, attached to the sides thereof and running down the sides of the frame to points within reach of the operator, there being cleats or fastening devices at L of any suitable character. Preferably the ropes K are situated at the ends of the beam J, being secured thereto by eyebolts 7c, and

pass over the ends of the top cross-pieces, E, there being pulleys k attached to the beams and arranged to engage with the ropes.

Upon the beam J, Fig. 3, there is supported a longitudinal adjustable block, M. It maybe made of wood or metal, as preferred, and according to the character of the work to be perguide provided upon the top of the beam J. It is held in any desired position by means of ropes or chains N, attached to it by means of eyebolts at n, and running thence outwardly over the end of the beam J, and downwardly to suitable cleats or fastening devices at 0. When it-is desired to adjust the block M longitudinally on the bar J the ropes are first loosened at their lower ends, and the block is then drawn into the desired position, after which the ropes are again fastened.

Through the block M and the beam J passes the guide P for the ram or monkey Q. The guide P is preferably made of a round bar of metal, though square or other angular bar may be employed. It is provided at its upper end with a nut, 11, which prevents it from being dropped out of the block M when not in use. At the lower end it is provided with a point, p, and a collar, 12 above the point. Preferably the collar p and point p are made separately from the part P, being formed of steel and attached to said part P by screwthread or otherwise. This guide P can be shifted laterally by shifting the bar J by means hereinbefore described. It may be shifted or adjusted longitudinally by moving the block said beam being provided with a slot, J, to permit the movement of the guide. The ram or monkey Q is provided with a central aper ture, through which the guide 1? is passed.

for the attachment of the lifting-ropes. At the lower end it is preferably provided with a recess, q, adapted to fit the collar 11 so that the ram can strike the upper end of the pile The ram is elevated and supported while rising by a rope, R, attached at one end to one of the eyes, q, and passing up over a pulley, R, and thence down to a pulley, R secured to its end.

At its upper end it has two or more eyes, (1,

' formed. Preferably it is mounted in a way or M in one direction or the other on the beam J,

without coming in contact with the collar.

S is a hoisting-rope. The part S extends from the pulley S outward to the horse-engine or other motor. From said pulley the rope extends upward over the pulley R and down to a cleat or gripping device at S For such purposes as the driving of piles in ditches, sewers, &c., the mechanism which I have described is very advantageous, as one or more horses can be readily employed, and the rope S S can be so operated as that the horse need not be constantly coming back that is to say, coming back at each elevation of the hammer--for if the part S of the rope be sufficiently long it will be seen that to let the hammer drop it is only necessary to release the rope at S and after the hammer has dropped to again fasten it there at a new point, so that the horse or horses drawing upon the part S can move on continuously until the whole of the part S of the rope has been taken up.

Instead of the cleat shown at S, in Figs. 1 and 2, use may be advantageously made of a cam-gripper such as is shown in Fig. 5, or of any other device adapted to that purpose.

It will be seen that the rope R and the pulley R act as a flexible ram-support while the ram is being elevated; and it will also be seen that with this ram-support the hoisting-rope S is permanently though loosely connected, and that it is by means of this construction and arrangement of parts that the continuous operation last-above described is permitted.

In Fig. l I have shown how two sets of driving devices may be mounted upon one frame.

There are two blocks M mounted upon the beam J, having ropes N for moving them longitudinally and fastening them. The ropes, in a construction of this character, may be attached eccentrically to the blocks, so that the ropes shall not interfere with each other. Pulleys or anti-friction rollers a may be attached to the blocks, so that the blocks and ropes can move more or less freely relatively to each other. When the machine is arranged in this way two sets of piles can be driven at once-one upon each side of the ditch or sewer.

If desired, two or more cross-beams J may be used, each provided with a set of driving devices.

What I claim is-- 1. In a pile-driver, the combination, with the framework, of the laterally and longitudinally adjustable guide P, the ram surrounding said guide, and the hoisting and dropping mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The com bination,with the frame,the hoisting and dropping mechanism, and the ram Q, of the guide P, adapted to be passed centrally through the ram, and provided with the collar 19 and the point 1), substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the frame, of the laterally-movable top supporting-beam, J, the ram, and the ram-guide carried by said beam J, and the ropes K for securing the beam after being laterally adjusted, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the beam J, the ram, and the ram-guide P, of the guide-block M, longitudinally adjustable on said beam, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,with the frame-work and the ram Q, of the ram-guide passing through the ram and arranged to be adjusted laterally and longitudinally on the frame, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the main frame, the rising and falling ram, the support for the ram, adjustable relatively to the frame, the rope It, the pulley R, the draft-rope S, loosely and permanently connected to the rope It, and the clamping devices adapted to have the draftrope detachably secured to them at successive points in its length, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the ram and the rope R, of the hoisting-rope S, and the clamping devices adapted to be directly engaged with each other, said hoisting-rope being permanently but loosely engaged with the rope S, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pile-driving mechanism, the combination, with the frame adapted to be supported upon both sides of the ditch or sewer, of the two sets of driving devices and the laterallyadjustable beam J, which supports both of said sets of driving devices, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the supportingframe and the two independently-operated sets of driving devices, of the laterally-adjustable Ioo beam J, which supports both sets of driving devices, and the blocks H, adjustable longitudinally upon the frame independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in 105 presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL KNOWLES.

Witnesses F. M. PEED,

CHARLES H. BATTLEY. 

